(19)
(11) EP 0 872 328 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
07.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/27

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/43

(21) Application number: 98302645.1

(22) Date of filing: 03.04.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6B29C 47/14, B29C 47/70
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 14.04.1997 US 838891

(71) Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
Rochester, New York 14644 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Proper, James M.
    Webster, NY 14580 (US)
  • Burroughs, Anthony T.
    Rochester, NY 14623 (US)
  • Leonardo, Joseph L.
    Penfield, NY 14526 (US)
  • Knopp, Daniel R.
    Williamson, NY 14589 (US)
  • Devlin, Mark V.
    Marion, NY 14505 (US)

(74) Representative: Rackham, Stephen Neil 
GILL JENNINGS & EVERY, Broadgate House, 7 Eldon Street
London EC2M 7LH
London EC2M 7LH (GB)

   


(54) Extrusion die


(57) A method and apparatus for successfully extruding polymers that have relatively high Deborah numbers is disclosed. Specifically, the invention is directed to an extrusion die for manufacturing viscoelastic and similar polymers while reducing or eliminating die swell. These polymers typically exhibit Deborah numbers that are in the range of 20 to 30 as compared to 1 to 5 of styrene butadiene, as well as high elasticity or elastic modulus. The method and apparatus can be used to manufacture xerographic toner that has a relatively low melting temperature, which can cause a reduction in the power consumption of a printer or copier, and can increase the life of some of the fuser components contained within the machine. More importantly, use of toner particles created using the present invention can reduce or eliminate the phenomenon known as "vinyl off set," which causes the transfer of a hard copy image onto a vinyl material.





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